Well today, in 3 weeks, will be race day. I am nearly ready. I think my mental reserves are getting a bit low. If I was a motorbike, you'd switch me to the reserve tank! Only a few more big/tough sessions to go.
The week has gone pretty well, with all target sessions achieved. My last big run was on Thursday and I managed a bit over 32km in 2:30hrs. I ran down the coast from home to Eric St in Swanbourne and then around to Christchurch school and then followed the normal bike route around the river until just above Warrawee lodge, where I went down to the river and ran past all the yacht clubs. When I got to Matilda Bay, I bumped into Scott coming the other way. He was doing exactly the same thing as me (2.5hr run) so we ran together for about 35 min, which was good (and hard). It was really humid and drizzled a little. I lost a bucket of sweat. Was a bit dehydrated later in the day despite a decent effort at drinking heaps all day.
Last night I had my 2nd of 3 weekly Friday 3.8km non-stop swims. It was a bit easier mentally than last week. I also took a full minute of last week and posted a 1:08. Still a long way off race pace hopefully. But in a pool - turning every 50m, with no wetsuit and using a pull buoy, I was fairly happy. My laps were very consistent at just under 18min per km.
Today was a very tough ride. I was up and on the bike at 5am, rode about 28km in 55min to Runners World. A really good group was there today. A few people who haven't ridden much all winter rocked up. Like Rat and big Andy. Most notably though - Bernie. He was looking pretty good. He has finished his chemo for now and was on his new Merkx bike. It was really good to have him in the bunch, even if I didn't see a lot of him. Anyway, Spider, Spud and Big Greg were all keen to give it a nudge at various times and so I had some other riders to play with! We did Circuit # 2. The tone was set early when we headed up Hale Rd (east side) and I pulled out of the bunch and blew up the hill and past Spider (who was a bit in front) in the 'big dog' all the way to the top. I was deep in the red by the time we got to the top and my HR had hit 88% of max. I'm not sure what I was doing - as I didn't plan it. I just felt the need for speed! Well Spider jumped on my wheel and followed me to the top and then it was on! Every hill was a test in who could hurt the most! I think I hurt the more - as he is still a level above me in bike fitness and I was on the TT rig - which isn't the best climbing machine. But it made for some lively riding as we did Rebold hill, Mosman Pk golf course, Reserve St etc. Spud and Spider egged me on when we were on flat fast and sometime windy bits. So I towed them at various times and loved it! Spider took a dare from Butch that he couldn't ride one legged up Reserve St - twice! He took it and did it! Amazing! I couldn't believe it as he went up with one leg unclipped!
We then got to the coffee shop at about 8:35 or so. It was real hard to just stop for a pit stop and refill a bidon. I really would have loved to stay and have coffee and eggs and toast. It was hard to leave as I would have loved to catch up with everyone. So I jumped back on the Cervelo and headed back around the river the opposite way to what we had just ridden. East Perth, Burswood, Sth Perth , Como, Canning bridge and back down to Port beach. The WNW'ly had picked up a fair bit and my plan of a nice steady cruise home was out the window! I had to push into it for about an hour. I got home and had done 153km in 5:03hrs
A quick change of gear and I ran out the door for a brick run. 30min/6km later I got home and was feeling pretty shattered. But mostly hungry!
One more big ride (next Sat) and taper begins next week. I can't wait. 20 days to go.
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